norskman2

The Wall Street Journal published some letters to the editor responding to the recent excellent and long-overdue article on how low regional salaries are contributing to the "pilot shortage."

Nice to see some national media attention finally on this. Hopefully guys named Orenstein, Trenary, Foley and the rest will read this stuff.


If You Want More Pilots,
Make Salaries Takeoff
January 2, 2008; Page A9

While the future sounds bleak for airlines with respect to finding experienced pilots ("The Middle Seat: Airlines Lower Bar to Fill Pilot Ranks," Personal Journal, Dec. 18), the airlines themselves are contributing to the shortage. According to your article, starting salaries for pilots are as low as $24,000 per year. However, a new pilot at a regional airline, with less-than-desirable work rules, is more likely to encounter a starting salary of $18,000 to $21,000. This is after spending $100,000 or more on aviation education, as many pilots do.
In order to attract more experienced pilots to the industry, regional airlines shouldn't add insult to injury by offering entry-level salaries that qualify pilots and their families for food stamps.
Z. Mahdlo
Flight Instructor
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, N.D.

Time will tell if the old adage of "you get what you pay for" holds true for airline safety and reliability.
Vincent N. Young
Retired Airline Captain
Kerrville, Texas

As a pilot of one of the country's largest airlines, I was forced to bypass returning after being furloughed because of the significant pay cut I would have endured. Is it any surprise that many talented individuals are now avoiding the industry, albeit with the sorrow of not being able to do what they love? I think it is naive to believe that because of technology or other improvements, this decreased experience level will be without effect.
Stephen V. Martell
Airline Transport Pilot
Washington

ExperimentalAB

The guy sitting next to me on a Company -700 (First class, if it matters) saw my Crew ID and asked if I was a Pilot...yes, I replied, for SkyWest (dumbed it down to United Express when I got a blank-stare). Anyway, we started talking compensation, and I asked him what he thought I made...His reply? 100K as an FO (sorry - a Co-Pilot ). Not only was he shocked that I could actually fly the plane, and even LAND THE PLANE once in awhile, he couldn't believe I did it for ~20K/yr.

Don't even know what to think about what is wrong with this world.

SharkAir

It's ok. I can't believe you do it either.

ExperimentalAB

I can't believe you do it either!! I can't believe we all do it!

ToiletDuck

Oh snap! You just got served.

Pilotguy143

ouch. That was just funny

Superpilot92

ExperimentalAB

Alright...jokes on me?! LoL

ScaryKite

I encountered a similular situation a
few days ago! I was at a bar(big surprise) and one of my buddies was talkingabout me flying! Needless to say some dude was
like "what do you make man? Like 150k a year?"

No keep in mind I live in sdf and most people in the area know ups pilots and expect that we all make that kind of scratch! I quickly explained to him the situation and his rebuttle was



"man that sucks! I thought pilots were loaded"



So I continue to wear my uniform with a fake wedding ring! (you know it works) to the farmers market and spin class!

I'll let you know how it works out!


Cheers
SK

ExperimentalAB

Was in SDF last night. I don't think I have ever been colder than I was this morning walking across the street to the local Waffle House...must have been well below Zero, not including the wind-chill ::shivers::

And it just felt colder I think because it 'aint supposed to be anywhere near that cold in Kentucky!!